The Israel-Hamas conflict has led to rising fuel prices. Foreign media: The finance ministers of five EU countries have written to the European Commission, jointly calling for a "super profits tax" on energy companies.

Questioning AI · What are the deeper motives behind the EU five countries’ finance ministers jointly calling for windfall tax?

【Global Network Report, Reporter Yan Peiyun】According to Reuters’ report on the 4th, a letter seen by the media on that day from the finance ministers of five EU countries to the European Commission shows that the five countries’ finance ministers are calling for a tax on the windfall profits of energy companies resulting from the surge in fuel prices caused by the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Image shows the EU flag outside the European Commission headquarters. Image source: media report illustration

The report states that the five countries are Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Austria. In their joint letter on the 3rd, the finance ministers made the above call, saying such measures would demonstrate “our unity and ability to act.”

“This will also send a clear message that those benefiting from the consequences of the war must do their part to ease the burden on the public,” the finance ministers said in the letter. They also stated that, given current market distortions and fiscal constraints, the European Commission should quickly develop a solid legal-based EU-wide payment tool.

The report notes that the letter did not specify how much “windfall tax” the five countries’ finance ministers proposed to levy, nor did it specify which companies should be subject to this tax.

Due to heavy reliance on imported fuels, Europe is highly susceptible to rising global energy prices driven by escalating Middle Eastern tensions. Data shows that since the start of the Iran conflict, EU natural gas prices have increased by about 70%, and oil prices have risen by over 50%.